Unfortunately for the riders, the Marche walls at Tirreno Adriatico 2026 do not end with Stage 5. They return – even tougher and more decisive – on Stage 6, from San Severino Marche to Camerino, covering 189 km. Once again, the elevation gain reaches 3,900 metres, but this time it is the final opportunity: anyone aiming to win the Trident must make their move here.
San Severino Marche has often been a transit town for Tirreno Adriatico, but has never hosted a stage start. It lies in the Potenza River valley, a position that over the centuries favoured its role as a junction between the Apennines and the Marche hills. The modern town traces its roots back to the ancient Roman city of Septempeda, whose remains lie just outside the medieval historic centre, later developed on higher ground. The heart of the town is Piazza del Popolo, with its distinctive elliptical shape – a notable example of Renaissance urban space and the focal point of civic life.
After just over 50 km, the climb to Sassotetto begins: the Valico di Santa Maria Maddalena (13.1 km at 7.3%), which could already thin out the peloton. Camerino is then reached via the eastern approach (1.4 km at 10.9%), leading into a demanding 28.6 km finishing circuit to be ridden twice. The loop is brutal, centred around the climb of the Muro della Madonna delle Carceri, which leads directly to the finish in Camerino: 3 km at an average of 8.8%, with ramps up to 18%. The finish line comes at the end of the third ascent, and a fully fragmented, “groups-and-gaps” finish is to be expected.
For Camerino, this will be only the second-ever finish of a Tirreno Adriatico stage, after 2009, when local hero Michele Scarponi won and went on to take the overall classification. In 1980, the town also hosted a Giro Next Gen stage, won by future superstar Moreno Argentin.
Camerino is a town of the Marche Apennines, set on a ridge overlooking the upper Chienti valley, a position that historically defined its strategic importance. Its origins are ancient, but the town rose to prominence in the Middle Ages as a ducal seat under the Da Varano family, becoming a key political and cultural centre. This history is still clearly visible in its urban fabric, with palaces, churches, and civic spaces. Camerino is also closely linked to a long academic tradition: its university, founded in the 14th century, remains a central element of the town’s identity.
Curiosity: this is Giulio Pellizzari’s home stage. The Italian prodigy was born in San Severino Marche and raised in Camerino.
